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Sunday, January 23, 2011

Hello Sunshine Where are you?????? I'm so ready to have you visit. I'm Freezing!!!!!!!! Whats the chances of you visiting early? I don't think I'm alone when I say that I'm ready along with my friends for you to show up? Do we need to have a party for you? We can arrange that if you will make it a priority to help us out some.

Is everyone gearing up for the game today? Who are your rooting for? I'm ready to be back on track again with the journaling, I'm getting myself in the right frame of mind. Liquid, Liquid, Liquid. Yeap thats my diet again. I think I'm going to be okay. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, so far so good. Think I'll continue this past the week that was suggested and make sure my body is healing like it should. I don't need any issues after all it is the 1st of the year and vacation time is just around the corner.

And then theres River bend, of course I'm going. The line up as I mentioned before is going to be spectacular. I'm anxiously awaiting the announcement of other acts.

This morning I was able to sleep in a couple of extra hours. Usually on Sunday I'm up and ready to start my mission of collecting my good deals for the week. I start by grabbing my bundle of newspapers that my carrier is so gracious to make sure are delivered. Then i pull out the coupons, and take the newspapers over to the Nursing home for them to enjoy. Then start my rounds.

You can catch up on what my main mission was this morning under the "deals I'm working on " tab. I've also posted a recipe this morning might just warm you up a bit. "enjoy" you will have to scroll to the very bottom of the page. I haven't figured out how to make a mini blog yet from those pages. I'm working on it, but if someone would like to share a little cheat sheet with me that would be awesome.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Wow, is that a word.. In the beginning of my new journey, I began by living it on liquids for 2 weeks. Then introduced to soft foods. Before moving on to the next step. Which gets me back to where I begin with the title of todays blog. "Liquefied" I haven't been really feeling well for a few weeks now. So I thought it might be time to call in some reinforcement, I'm a tough cookie (yes sugar free). However, there is a time where you have to give in. My gut decided I didn't seem to be getting any better.

Symptoms included, nausea, diarrhea. (also known as dumping syndrome) Well maybe it is and isn't this time. The doctor asked me to go onto liquids for a week and see if it would help releave some of the stress that may be on my stomach/gastric track. I'll save you all the details. Let's just say yesterday I really didn't think I was getting better, but towards the end of the day I began to feel a little better. Having been eating/drinking liquids since tuesday I believe the liquid thing was doing better than I thought.

I journeyed over to wally world and began to search the aisles for some soup that might look like I could drink. At the beginning of my journey when I started soups there really wasn't a whole lot to choose from, broth cream of ...... well you get the picture.. Until a box jumped into my sight from the shelf. Calling my name, Lisa look at me.....me.... me....Hey I'm new to you try me out... Creamy soups???? What did I just stumble upon. Pacific Foods was something new I had never saw before. I have really been impressed with their product, I've even sent the company a "Atta Boy" button so to speak. So needless to say I'm a fan.

So, as for the journal this week, its kind of been shot, I'm still tracking just a little off track.

Breakfast---Carnation instant breakfast low sugar
Water-liquids-juices, I've actually covered this a little more than normal and this is good.

Lunch--my now found favorite soup---creamy potato leek-
yogurt-jello

Supper-soup creamy corn southwest
yogurt-jello

juices-water

while I was packing my husbands lunch and waiting on the coffee to brew, I did 10 each of leg exercises, squeezed in a little arm exercises. Guess I figured might as well work a little in while I was waiting.. Doesn't hurt anything, better than nothing. That's pretty much been it for me this past few days. I hope everyone else has been well and stayed warm. I'll touch base later.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

I don't know about you, I'm beginning to thaw out a bit. The snow that Mother Nature provided us was just awesome enjoyed it on Christmas day and enjoyed it last week. I'm ready to get moving on to a little warmer weather.

One of the things that I have missed since having my surgery is the extra padding that kept me warm. I literally freeze now. But I'm not complaining please don't take it that way. I love my new self. And I truly don't mean that to sound snobbish in any way. Each day I work on getting even better. My journaling is going well. I sure hope yours is as well. I look forward to living a little longer by working with my tool that my Dr. Provided.

My friend at work that had this surgery a few years before me. Is my buddy, she is always thinking of me and sharing links to different things of interest or letting me know of something that is good for us. She sent me an email yesterday and told me that she has discovered a protein drink that is to die for. It's called Naked Juice . I've noticed this in the stores, but when I would read the labels, yes it was loaded with lots of protein that our bodies need. However, I also took extreme notice to the sugar content. When I mentioned it to her, she said that was the good sugar. So I have picked me one up and will try it. It has 32 gm of protein in a 15.2 fl oz bottle.

Since sugar and I don't get along I will drink it here at home so that I will be close to all necessities needed should I have a episode with my non-friend Mr. Dumping Syndrome.

On another note, as we thaw out, we will begin to get back to normal. I mean a long week ahead with no days off anytime soon. I'm saving my time off for the Riverbend festival in Chattanooga in June. They have some really great headliners coming. Beach Boys, Miranda Lambert, Jefferson Starship (oh yeah) Huey Lewis and the news. This is just a touch of the talent that is yet to be announced that will be coming. Yes I'm telling my age. However, I'm still young at heart. I'm looking forward to the entertainment, I already have my pins ready.

As you've noticed I've been working on my blog a bit. I'm trying to learn and get a little creative with it. If it crashes I'll be up a creek.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

What an experience we recently had! It started with our Christmas lunch at work. We gathered together to spend a little time with each other and enjoy the lunch that Our Company had provided. It was wonderful. They had a sign up explaining the give away and as we were entering the lunch line. Each one of us was given a ticket and we kept half and put the other half with our name and phone number on it into the box.

I read the sign, but not know actually what it was, I just didn't think anything else about it. Until that afternoon when my phone rang and I thought I was in trouble (hehe) It showed the Boss calling from speaker phone. Conversation went something like this:

Boss: you have won the tickets.
Lisa: Okay to what sir.
Boss: to the Music City Bowl
Lisa: That is wonderful
Boss: Then the other 2 gentlemen that were in the room with him chimed in
advised that it was the football game and I had also won the day off with pay.
And also had a parking pass so that we could park close.
Lisa: Cool... I said Yes I'm a country girl.
Boss: We'll get the tickets to you.
I thanked them all for drawing my name and told them that I would take pictures
which I did, just slow at getting them posted.

With it being year end at work, And myself being in a department that we don't usually schedule any off time
due to the deadlines, in our department. I was already scheduled to be off friday. Because of how the holiday fell on a saturday our department split up the day of when we would be off. Either on a friday or Monday. I had swapped with another lady because she wanted to be off on monday. That worked out great. I wasn't sure if I would be able to use the tickets or not. After all the game was on a Thursday, I was excited as there are way over 150+ in our office. And I was the lucky one.

After the Administrative Assistant brought over the tickets, I told her that I might not be able to be off on thursday, she advised that they were mine to do with what I wanted. I really wanted to go. When I spoke with my boss she was excited and everyone worked with me. My co-workers jumped in and made sure that my job was covered. I was extremely greatful. My co-workers are good at helping out. I hadn't ever been to a game like this before. I was looking forward to it.

My husband had to work, so after he got off we took off to Nashville. We took our time and enjoyed the trip to Nashville. We stopped and ate before we went to the game. Rested a little bit in the vehicle before the game, and watching all the tailgater's. Wow they go all out. The Outcome of the game wasn't what we would have liked for it to have been. We would have loved to have had the headlines read "VOLS WIN" but we got to see a great game and sit with some of my Co-workers. The seats were great and we were able to enjoy it all. What an experience to remember.

After the game ended we drove home and slept late on friday.

Thank you to Mr. Jones and his great Staff for providing the lunch, tickets and the day off with Pay.

So now for the pictures:

Displaying the winning tickets before the game

Taken outside the Titan Stadium

Mr. Dooley, coming down the vol walk

My Husband (Joe and I) Lisa

Tn Cheerleaders

TN marching Band, Now I have several pictures of the formations of the band, as I'm partial to 1/2 time I was in the band in high school and this was my favorite part.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Greetings Everyone.
Missed you guys! I have been couped up inside, snowed in. Mother Nature shared between 7-8 inches of beautiful Snow and enough to enjoy. Except we weren't able to get out of the drive way. How about you? Did you get any of it? We don't know what to do with all of this Snow. I wanted to get out in it, but decided since I can't stand on ground when it isn't slick, I sure wouldn't be able to with snow on it.

As you see I fell going on 4 wks ago and my right arm/shoulder have been giving me a fit. I'm trying to ignore it but I just won't allow me to.

How's your journaling going? I'm actually keeping up with it, but with being couped up I did have a tasty desert that I don't normally have. (Snow Cream) I tried to make it without all of the sugar. It turned out good, I just wasn't as tasty as I like it. But I will manage as I don't need the sugar with the effects that it provides me.

After digging our vehicles out of the driveway yesterday anticipating going to work this morning I prepared our lunches. (yes we brown bag) Its actually a lunch box for my husband and mine is a tinker bell lunch box. I love Tinker Bell.

Breakfast : 3 egg whites, 1 pc of sugar free toast with spray butter

mid morning- 1/2 c of oatmeal with sugar free jelly

Lunch: Turkey/ham/cheese roll up, no bread

Mid afternoon: sugarfree vanilla wafers with peanut butter cookies used (6 cookies) 2 for each cookie making a total of (3)

Supper: my husband fixed our chinese stir fry: We have been getting the frozen stir fry mixture at Aldi's $2.99 and adding cut up chicken to it. It serves approx 4 people. We really like this stuff

I didn't drink all of my water only managed to get in 20oz today, I am working on more this evening and I'm having a cup of cappuchino.

Exercise: am 15 min of slim in 6 dvd, and I'm going to try and get to my bike in a few minutes once my son's company leaves.

Here's a couple of pictures that we took of the snow outside yesterday.

Tah Tah for Now. Please stay warm and be careful out there its getting slick this evening
Lisa

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Greetings!!!! How we doing? I'm kicking along....No not kicking myself. I'm doing good. My husband told me yesterday that starting Monday he's going to be cutting back on what he's eating. So I've ask him to join me on my daily journaling. It will be good to have some extra support locally. I skipped a day somewhere. I'm going to try and get caught up.

Friday Breakfast: 2 egg whites, 1 pc sugar free toast with spray butter, 1 banana
mid-morning: 1/4 c of raisins
Lunch: Sub sandwich- picked up at subway, I forgot my usual salad, So I had double meat put on it and took the bread off and rolled the meat around the lettuce tomato.
Supper: 1 cup of Chicken Chili with 1 tsp sour cream
1 banana

My friends, I'm making a little progress, I was actually sweating a little this morning with the little bit of exercise with the dvd I did. That's progress.

Today I'm going to do a little catching up on my coupons. I'm a little behind getting them filed and I need to make a run to Publix for my peanut butter. (road trip)

Ladies, might want to check out your local CVS this week, they have lots of Revlon foundation makeup 75% off, and if you printed you off any of the coupons from coupons.com before they disappeared for the revlon. Well let's just say some of my friends have been getting FREE make up, tax only of course. I picked me up some this week.

Need Shampoo? Nexus Shampoo??? Interested???? Click on the tip from one of my favorite frequented coupon websites Time2Saveworkshops and they will show you how to get it really cheap. Do you have the little red CVS card attached to your keychain? Just taking up space? Put it to work. It will save your family lots.

Going to go for now, I have fruits, veggies, milk, eggs and peanut butter to pick up just in case we get the snow they are calling for us to get and next week journaling of eats.

Have an Excellent day today, and smile at someone you don't know. Make their day!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Just checking in. I continue to do well. I hope that everyone else is as well. Hope your writing down what your eating, getting your exercise in and doing great. Posting what i had to add to my journal of eats today.

Breakfast:
2 egg whites 1 pc sugar free toast with spray butter (I use the spray butter that has no calories) 5 sprays are free and that is enough on the toast. 1 tsp of sugar free orange marmalade on my toast.

Supper:
Chicken hotdog, cut up no bread. This is a treat for me, As I haven't been able to eat hot dogs in 4 yrs. I found the chicken hot dogs and even Turkey hot dogs, Thank You Oscar Mayer for making these for individuals that can't do beef or pork.

I managed to keep my hiny out of the kitchen this evening.

Exercise: 15 min on my incumbent bike. I'm trying to alternate the bike with the treadmill so that I don't get burned out. I also put in my slim in 6 dvd this morning and did 10 min. I'm working my way up. And I'm going to get there. You will too. Keep up the good work you have been doing, It's almost been a week. Woo Hoo!!! Pat your self on the back and give yourself an "atta boy" or "girl". Going to check out now.

I've also added a recipe to the recipes button. I thought with it being cold weather, we might want something slow in calories that will warm us up a bit.

Since I can't digest beef or pork, I change out the italian sausage for turkey, works great.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Good evening All,
How is everyone doing? Well I'm happy to report that I have started back to journaling my eats and its amazing what I have discovered that I have been eating and not realizing it. Today I ran across a little insert that I would like to share with everyone. Found it quite unique.

My support team Leader/editor over at Living after WLS posted this powerful message this morning and I was amazed. Some people have been offended by it and when you read it, you can see why? However, she speaks from the heart and tells us like it is. Sometimes, that's what friends/support teams are there for.
You need to hear what they have to say.

At times when you ask your friends/better halves etc, something they will sugar coat it. That's not what we need to keep the focus of our lifestyle. I have some friends that are right there too. They mean well and they do love us. But they aren't doing us any favors.

Please read what she has to say. I know its made me think a lot about what she has written. The subject is WLS-Split-Personality-Syndrome . Kaye also has a quote:

﻿I have this as a magnet that I received when I placed an order from her website stuck to my cabinet door so that I can review it each and every time I open it up. And that is several times a day.

My food journal for today

Breakfast: 3 egg whites and 1 pc of sugar free toast, oatmeal with 1 tsp of sugar free strawberry jelly with 1 packet of sweet and low a package of peanut butter crackers. I know that the crackers are a no no but I needed some peanut butter. I was out of my jar of peanut butter that I keep in my cabinet.

However, Publix here I come. They have it on sale and I will be able to stock back up with my coupons for $.25 cents a jar. And its (Peter Pan) If you would like to know how I'm going to get it at this price email me. I'll be glad to share it with you.

Supper: chicken stir fry 2 cups, 1/4 cup of chips. I know this is a no no, but I needed something salty.

I'll work on breaking this real soon.

I managed to get all of my water in today 64 oz and I've had 2 cups of coffee during the day today

and while I'm working on my updates this evening I had 1 cup of coffee and I'm working on 1 large glass of water with crystal light in it now.

Exercise: I walked 15 minutes on my treadmill. I will have to work myself back up to where I was several months ago. I had became complacent with my routine. However, with holding my self accountable with trying to make sure that I update my blog, just in case someone is interested will be helping me tremendously.

Thank you my friends. If you find anything you think would be of interest to blog about, please let me know. I have some of my recipes ready to start being posted as well. I'll get going soon with that and I haven't forgotten my Music City bowl pictures, they are coming too.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Good evening All,
I'm back as promised, I sincerely hope that everyone is as ready as I am to begin our new Year and get back on track. I didn't start back today, I don't do well on Mondays. So I have picked up my foods for the week and printed off my food journal to keep up with my foods that I eat. This includes the food that I will catch myself grazing on.

Today as I sat at my desk and proceeded to get a little caught up, after being off for a few extra days. I tried to make myself aware of what I was grazing on and when. I think I've discovered that its not at work that is my problem. It's after I get home.

Folks with this journal, log everything, even if you don't think its important that way you can see what you are eating or not eating that you should be.

Here's what I had for breakfast this morning.
3 egg whites and 2 pc of sugar free healthy choice bread toasted
1/2 c of oatmeal with raisins
Which is really too much. But I try to get as much protein in that I can, I don't eat all of this at once, It usually takes me about 2 hours to eat the eggs/toast the oatmeal I usually eat it in about 15-20 min.

For lunch I had a salad:
lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower,cheese, raisins, and vinegar/oil salad dressing
1 pc of chicken breast

For supper
my husband made some chicken fajitas, I picked out the chicken and that is all that I ate
until, I found myself back in the kitchen, for a handful of crackers, It took me sitting down about to doze off when I realized "hey your grazing" and on crackers to beat it all. Because they are dry they have a tendency to get stuck. Then I begin to hiccup.

Somehow I thought I needed a cup of coffee, because I was out of creamer, I added 2 tbs of sugar free cappuchino. What I should have been drinking is water. I did drink 20 oz today. We were extremely busy today, I had 3 cups of decaf coffee besides the water.

So this is where I need to stop myself. When I catch myself going back to the kitchen is when I need to say to myself.... Get on the treadmill, or incumbent bike and do a couple rounds.

Please feel free to print off you a journal from the above link and get ready to begin a new journey with me. My goal is to get 20 lbs off by the beginning of April, and we can do this together. We just have to hold ourselves accountable.

I also found a freebie today for people that have had the bariatric surgery, you can request a free sample of Post bariatric vitamins . I've been considering trying these.

This is my normal vitamins that I take
1 multivitamin (daily)
1 b12 vitamin once a week + 1 shot of b12 once a month
2 calcium citrate (petites) (daily)

I only have 2 prescriptions that I take, (1) is the b12 injection as noted above
(2) diuretic (prn) I usually don't have to take these except mostly in the summer when my feet/legs swell.

I hope this information will be of some interest and help others. I'll come back again soon.

If you have any questions, Please send me an email. I'll try and help all that I can.